The Museum of Names began with a simple observation: We all have names. We hear them, say them, and use them every day. But how often do we stop to consider just how much they hold?

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Names carry meaning, history, identity, and belonging, and in a world hungry for connection, they offer  surprising power to build bridges and affirm our shared humanity. So the Museum is designed as an inspiration to explore and share everything names carry — insights and scholarship, curiosity and culture, memory and meaning— and to reimagine names as touchstones of identity and belonging.

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Our mission is rooted in the core truth that names are not trivial things. They are the building blocks of connection, vessels of heritage, and one of the most universal — and overlooked — tools for human understanding. By propelling discovery about the depth and diversity of names and name stories, the Museum aims to spread love, spark conversation, and help build a more cohesive planet, one name at a time.

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Like most enduring ideas, this one began with a timeless question: “What’s in a name?” And unlike Shakespeare’s tragic fictional heroine, we’ve found the answer is nearly everything. Emotion. Culture. Legitimacy. Longing. Self-conception. Joy. The people we come from, the people we’re becoming, and even the people we're not.

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Our founder and Chief Namiac, Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA, calls this the everyday magic of names. This sophisticated tool of belonging and meaning accompanies every one of us, every day. How lucky is that?

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The Museum of Names is for every self-identified Namiac—the name nerds, the culture lovers, the deep thinkers and onomophiles who know that even a moment of name-centered attention can spark something joyous. It's a vibrant hub for shared learning and meaningful engagement, offering workshops, trainings, and diverse resources for anyone who’s ever wondered where their name came from — or where it might take them - and for those entrusted with the honor of naming someone else or themselves. And really, it's for anyone with a name.

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Glad you made it here. Welcome to the Museum of Names.